Systems and methods for managing emissions from an engine of a vehicle

ABSTRACT

Disclosed embodiments include methods of removing carbon dioxide from combustion gas from an engine of a vehicle, systems for removing carbon dioxide from combustion gas from an engine of a vehicle, vehicles, methods of managing carbon dioxide emissions from an engine of a vehicle, and computer software program products for managing carbon dioxide emissions from an engine of a vehicle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to and/or claims the benefit of theearliest available effective filing date(s) from the following listedapplication(s) (the “Priority Applications”), if any, listed below(e.g., claims earliest available priority dates for other thanprovisional patent applications or claims benefits under 35 USC §119(e)for provisional patent applications, for any and all parent,grandparent, great-grandparent, etc. applications of the PriorityApplication(s)). In addition, the present application is related to the“Related Applications,” if any, listed below.

Priority Applications

The present application constitutes a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/605,619, entitled SYSTEMS AND METHODS FORMANAGING EMISSIONS FROM AN ENGINE OF A VEHICLE, naming RODERICK A. HYDE,MURIEL Y. ISHIKAWA, JORDIN T. KARE, THOMAS A. WEAVER, and LOWELL L.WOOD, JR. as inventors, filed 26, Jan., 2015, which is currentlyco-pending and which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 13/961,512, entitled SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING EMISSIONS FROMAN ENGINE OF A VEHICLE, naming RODERICK A. HYDE, MURIEL Y. ISHIKAWA,JORDIN T. KARE, THOMAS A. WEAVER, and LOWELL L. WOOD, JR. as inventors,filed 7 Aug. 2013, which has issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,948,890.

Related Applications

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/961,551 entitled SYSTEMS AND METHODSFOR MANAGING EMISSIONS FROM AN ENGINE OF A VEHICLE, naming RODERICK A.HYDE, MURIEL Y. ISHIKAWA, JORDIN T. KARE, THOMAS A. WEAVER, and LOWELLL. WOOD, JR. as inventors, filed on 7 Aug. 2013, which has issued asU.S. Pat. No. 8,647,596, is related to the present application.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/961,486 entitled SYSTEMS AND METHODSFOR MANAGING EMISSIONS FROM AN ENGINE OF A VEHICLE, naming RODERICK A.HYDE, MURIEL Y. ISHIKAWA, JORDIN T. KARE, THOMAS A. WEAVER, and LOWELLL. WOOD, JR. as inventors, filed on 7 Aug. 2013, which has issued asU.S. Pat. No. 8,790,604, is related to the present application.

If the listings of applications provided above are inconsistent with thelistings provided via an ADS, it is the intent of the Applicant to claimpriority to each application that appears in the Priority Applicationssection of the ADS and to each application that appears in the PriorityApplications section of this application.

All subject matter of the Priority Applications and the RelatedApplications and of any and all parent, grandparent, great-grandparent,etc. applications of the Priority Applications and the RelatedApplications, including any priority claims, is incorporated herein byreference to the extent such subject matter is not inconsistentherewith.

BACKGROUND

This patent application relates to managing emissions from an engine ofa vehicle.

SUMMARY

Disclosed embodiments include methods of removing carbon dioxide fromcombustion gas from an engine of a vehicle, systems for removing carbondioxide from combustion gas from an engine of a vehicle, vehicles,methods of managing carbon dioxide emissions from an engine of avehicle, and computer software program products for managing carbondioxide emissions from an engine of a vehicle.

In addition to the foregoing, various other method and/or system and/orprogram product aspects are set forth and described in the teachingssuch as text (e.g., claims and/or detailed description) and/or drawingsof the present disclosure.

The foregoing is a summary and thus may contain simplifications,generalizations, inclusions, and/or omissions of detail; consequently,those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary isillustrative only and is NOT intended to be in any way limiting. Otheraspects, features, and advantages of the devices and/or processes and/orother subject matter described herein will become apparent in theteachings set forth herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A is a flowchart of an illustrative method of removing carbondioxide from combustion gas from an engine of a vehicle.

FIGS. 1B-1AK are flowcharts of details of the method of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram of an illustrative system for removing carbondioxide from combustion gas from an engine of a vehicle.

FIGS. 2B-2D are illustrations in partial schematic form of components ofthe system of FIG. 2A.

FIGS. 2E-2L are block diagrams of other illustrative systems forremoving carbon dioxide from combustion gas from an engine of a vehicle.

FIG. 3 is an illustration in partial schematic form of an illustrativevehicle.

FIG. 4A is a flowchart of an illustrative method.

FIGS. 4B-4E are flowcharts of details of the method of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5A is a flowchart of another illustrative method.

FIGS. 5B-5Q are flowcharts of details of the method of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6A is a flowchart of an illustrative method of managing carbondioxide emissions from an engine of a vehicle.

FIGS. 6B-6R are flowcharts of details of the method of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7A is a block diagram of an illustrative system.

FIGS. 7B-7C are block diagrams of other illustrative systems.

FIGS. 7D-7E are illustrations in partial schematic form of components ofthe system of FIG. 7A.

FIGS. 7F-7G are block diagrams of other illustrative systems.

FIG. 7H is an illustration in partial schematic form of a component ofthe system of FIG. 7A.

FIGS. 7I-7N are block diagrams of other illustrative systems.

FIG. 8A is a flowchart of an illustrative method of managing carbondioxide emissions from an engine of a vehicle.

FIGS. 8B-8G are flowcharts of details of the method of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9A is a block diagram of an illustrative system for managing carbondioxide emissions from an engine of a vehicle.

FIGS. 9B-9G are block diagrams of other illustrative systems formanaging carbon dioxide emissions from an engine of a vehicle.

FIG. 10A is an illustration in partial schematic form of anotherillustrative vehicle.

FIG. 10B is a block diagram of an illustrative system for managingcarbon dioxide emissions from an engine of the vehicle of FIG. 10A.

FIGS. 10C-10D are illustrations in partial schematic form of componentsof the system of FIG. 10B.

FIGS. 10E-10F are block diagrams of other illustrative systems formanaging carbon dioxide emissions from an engine of the vehicle of FIG.10A.

FIG. 10G is an illustration in partial schematic form of a component ofthe system of FIG. 10B.

FIGS. 10H-10M are block diagrams of other illustrative systems formanaging carbon dioxide emissions from an engine of the vehicle of FIG.10A.

FIG. 11A is a flowchart of another illustrative method.

FIGS. 11B-11C are flowcharts of details of the method of FIG. 11A.

The use of the same symbols in different drawings typically indicatessimilar or identical items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Initial Considerations

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings,similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless contextdictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in thedetailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting.Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made,without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matterpresented here.

The present application uses formal outline headings for clarity ofpresentation. However, it is to be understood that the outline headingsare for presentation purposes, and that different types of subjectmatter may be discussed throughout the application (e.g.,devices/structures may be described under processes/operations headingsand/or processes/operations may be discussed under structures/processesheadings; and/or descriptions of single topics may span two or moretopic headings). Hence, the use of the formal outline headings is notintended to be in any way limiting.

Those having skill in the art will recognize that the state of the arthas progressed to the point where there is little distinction leftbetween hardware, software, and/or firmware implementations of aspectsof systems; the use of hardware, software, and/or firmware is generally(but not always, in that in certain contexts the choice between hardwareand software can become significant) a design choice representing costvs. efficiency tradeoffs. Those having skill in the art will appreciatethat there are various vehicles by which processes and/or systems and/orother technologies described herein can be effected (e.g., hardware,software, and/or firmware), and that the preferred vehicle will varywith the context in which the processes and/or systems and/or othertechnologies are deployed. For example, if an implementer determinesthat speed and accuracy are paramount, the implementer may opt for amainly hardware and/or firmware vehicle; alternatively, if flexibilityis paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly softwareimplementation; or, yet again alternatively, the implementer may opt forsome combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. Hence, thereare several possible vehicles by which the processes and/or devicesand/or other technologies described herein may be effected, none ofwhich is inherently superior to the other in that any vehicle to beutilized is a choice dependent upon the context in which the vehiclewill be deployed and the specific concerns (e.g., speed, flexibility, orpredictability) of the implementer, any of which may vary. Those skilledin the art will recognize that optical aspects of implementations willtypically employ optically-oriented hardware, software, and or firmware.

In some implementations described herein, logic and similarimplementations may include software or other control structures.Electronic circuitry, for example, may have one or more paths ofelectrical current constructed and arranged to implement variousfunctions as described herein. In some implementations, one or moremedia may be configured to bear a device-detectable implementation whensuch media hold or transmit device-detectable instructions operable toperform as described herein. In some variants, for example,implementations may include an update or modification of existingsoftware or firmware, or of gate arrays or programmable hardware, suchas by performing a reception of or a transmission of one or moreinstructions in relation to one or more operations described herein.Alternatively or additionally, in some variants, an implementation mayinclude special-purpose hardware, software, firmware components, and/orgeneral-purpose components executing or otherwise invokingspecial-purpose components. Specifications or other implementations maybe transmitted by one or more instances of tangible transmission mediaas described herein, optionally by packet transmission or otherwise bypassing through distributed media at various times.

Alternatively or additionally, implementations may include executing aspecial-purpose instruction sequence or invoking circuitry for enabling,triggering, coordinating, requesting, or otherwise causing one or moreoccurrences of virtually any functional operations described herein. Insome variants, operational or other logical descriptions herein may beexpressed as source code and compiled or otherwise invoked as anexecutable instruction sequence. In some contexts, for example,implementations may be provided, in whole or in part, by source code,such as C++, or other code sequences. In other implementations, sourceor other code implementation, using commercially available and/ortechniques in the art, may be compiled//implemented/translated/convertedinto a high-level descriptor language (e.g., initially implementingdescribed technologies in C or C++ programming language and thereafterconverting the programming language implementation into alogic-synthesizable language implementation, a hardware descriptionlanguage implementation, a hardware design simulation implementation,and/or other such similar mode(s) of expression). For example, some orall of a logical expression (e.g., computer programming languageimplementation) may be manifested as a Verilog-type hardware description(e.g., via Hardware Description Language (HDL) and/or Very High SpeedIntegrated Circuit Hardware Descriptor Language (VHDL)) or othercircuitry model which may then be used to create a physicalimplementation having hardware (e.g., an Application Specific IntegratedCircuit). Those skilled in the art will recognize how to obtain,configure, and optimize suitable transmission or computational elements,material supplies, actuators, or other structures in light of theseteachings.

Overview

Given by way of overview, disclosed embodiments include methods ofremoving carbon dioxide from combustion gas from an engine of a vehicle,systems for removing carbon dioxide from combustion gas from an engineof a vehicle, vehicles, methods of managing carbon dioxide emissionsfrom an engine of a vehicle, and computer software program products formanaging carbon dioxide emissions from an engine of a vehicle.

In one or more various embodiments, related systems include but are notlimited to circuitry and/or programming for effecting theherein-referenced method embodiments; the circuitry and/or programmingcan be virtually any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmwareconfigured to effect the herein-referenced method embodiments dependingupon the design choices of the system designer.

These and other embodiments will be discussed in turn below andexplained by way of examples that are given by way of illustration andnot of limitation.

Removing Carbon Dioxide from Combustion Gas from an Engine of a Vehicle

Following are a series of flowcharts depicting implementations. For easeof understanding, the flowcharts are organized such that the initialflowcharts present implementations via an example implementation andthereafter the following flowcharts present alternate implementationsand/or expansions of the initial flowchart(s) as either sub-componentoperations or additional component operations building on one or moreearlier-presented flowcharts. Those having skill in the art willappreciate that the style of presentation utilized herein (e.g.,beginning with a presentation of a flowchart(s) presenting an exampleimplementation and thereafter providing additions to and/or furtherdetails in subsequent flowcharts) generally allows for a rapid and easyunderstanding of the various process implementations. In addition, thoseskilled in the art will further appreciate that the style ofpresentation used herein also lends itself well to modular and/orobject-oriented program design paradigms.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 3 and given by way of overview, anillustrative method 100 (FIG. 1A) is provided for removing carbondioxide from combustion gas 10 (FIG. 3) from an engine 12 (FIG. 3) of avehicle 14 (FIG. 3). The method 100 starts at a block 102. At a block104, carbon dioxide is removed from the combustion gas 10 in a firstvessel. At a block 106, material that contains carbon associated withthe carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10 is stored in asecond vessel. At a block 108, the material that contains carbonassociated with the carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas isremoved from the vehicle 14. The method 100 stops at a block 110.

The method 100 will be explained first. An illustrative system 200,including its components, will be explained next and the vehicle 14 thenwill be explained. Illustrative details will be set forth below by wayof non-limiting examples.

It will be appreciated that the vehicle 14 may include any type ofvehicle whatsoever that includes an engine 12 which produces carbondioxide emissions that are present in the combustion gas 10 that isexhausted from the engine 12. Accordingly, no limitation to the type ofvehicle 14 is intended and is not to be inferred. Thus, the vehicle 14may include, by way of illustration only and not of limitation: a landconveyance such as an automobile, a car, a truck, a van, a train, a farmimplement such as a tractor or the like, a military vehicle such as atank or a personnel carrier or the like; a water-borne conveyance, suchas a surface ship like a maritime vessel or a pleasure craft or a navalvessel, or a submarine (with a diesel engine); or an aerial conveyancesuch as a fixed-wing aircraft or a rotary wing aircraft.

The engine 12 may be any type of internal combustion engine as desiredfor a particular application. For example, the engine 12 may be aninternal combustion engine that uses a hydrocarbon fuel, such asgasoline or diesel fuel. In some embodiments, the engine 12 may bedisposed in an internal combustion engine in a hybrid vehicle in whichfuel may be switched between a hydrocarbon fuel for the engine 12 andelectricity to power an electric motor. In some applications, fuel forthe engine 12 may be determined by the vehicle 14 in which the engine 12is disposed. For example, in embodiments in which the vehicle 14 isembodied as a submarine, the engine 12 is a diesel engine.

Referring additionally to FIG. 1AK, in some embodiments storing in asecond vessel material that contains carbon associated with the carbondioxide removed from the combustion gas 10 at the block 106 may includestoring in a removably replaceable second vessel material that containscarbon associated with the carbon dioxide removed from the combustiongas 10 at a block 182.

In a related aspect and referring additionally to FIG. 1B, in someembodiments removing from the vehicle 14 the material that containscarbon associated with the carbon dioxide removed from the combustiongas 10 at the block 108 may include removing from the vehicle 14 thesecond vessel.

Given by way of non-limiting example for illustration purposes only, thesecond vessel (that contains carbon associated with the carbon dioxideremoved from the combustion gas 10) may be removed from the vehicle 14and brought to a collection or exchange facility that accepts containers(such as the second vessel) that contain carbon associated with thecarbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10. However, it will beappreciated that, in other applications, the second vessel need not bebrought to such a collection or exchange facility.

In some other embodiments and referring additionally to FIG. 1C, ifdesired an empty second vessel may be reinstalled on the vehicle 14 at ablock 114. In such cases, it will be appreciated that an empty secondvessel may be obtained from a collection or exchange facility asdescribed above. Thus, given by way of non-limiting example, in such acase the second vessel (that contains carbon associated with the carbondioxide removed from the combustion gas 10 may be removed from thevehicle 14 at the block 112 and brought to the collection or exchangefacility and exchanged for an empty second vessel, which is reinstalledon the vehicle 14 at the block 114. However, it will be appreciated thatan empty second vessel need not be obtained from such a collection orexchange facility and may be obtained from any source as desired.

It will be appreciated that the carbon dioxide may be removed from thecombustion gas 10 in any manner desired. For example and referringadditionally to FIGS. 1A, 1D, and 3, removing in a first vessel carbondioxide from the combustion gas 10 at the block 104 may includeabsorbing the carbon dioxide in a liquid solution. Given by way ofexample only and not of limitation, the liquid solution may includewithout limitation a chemical solvent absorber, like an alkanolaminesolvent such as without limitation monoethanolamine (MEA),methyldiethanolamine (MDEA), diethanolamine (DEA), piperazine,diisopropanolamine (DIPA), diglycolamine (DGA), and/or triethanolamine(TEA). In some embodiments, carbonic anhydrase may be used with thechemical solvent absorber to increase carbon dioxide absorption rates.

Given by way of further examples, in some embodiments the liquidsolution may include amine-modified room temperature ionic liquids(“RTILs”), such as without limitation amine-solubilized RTILs(“RTIL-amines”) and/or amino functionalized RTILs (task-specific ionicliquids, or “TSILs”).

In some other embodiments and given by way of further examples, theliquid solution may include aminoacid metal salts with piperazine. Forexample, the aminoacid metal salt may include without limitationpotassium dimethylaminoacetate. In some other embodiments, the liquidsolution may include amino-amides, such as without limitationdiethylaminoacetamide.

In some embodiments and referring additionally to FIG. 1E, absorbing thecarbon dioxide in a liquid solution at the block 116 may include passingthe combustion gas through a liquid solution at a block 118. In someother embodiments and referring additionally to FIG. 1F, absorbing thecarbon dioxide in a liquid solution at the block 116 may include passingthe combustion gas over a surface of a liquid solution at a block 120.

It will be appreciated that, in some embodiments, the first vessel has afirst pressure and the second vessel has a second pressure that is lessthan the first pressure. In such cases, a pressure differential can helpprevent backflow from the second vessel to the first vessel. Also, insome embodiments (and depending upon the removal modality), a higherpressure may be entailed for removing carbon dioxide than is entailedfor storing carbon dioxide.

In some embodiments and referring to FIGS. 1A, 1D, 1G, and 3, if desiredthe removed carbon dioxide may be separated from the liquid solution ata block 122. Given by way of non-limiting example for purposes ofillustration, the liquid solution may be heated in any manner as desiredto a temperature sufficient to separate the carbon dioxide from theliquid solution, and the carbon dioxide is transferred to the secondvessel for storage. Referring additionally to FIG. 1H, in someembodiments after the carbon dioxide is separated from the liquidsolution at the block 122, if desired, the liquid solution may berecovered at a block 124. For example, the liquid solution from whichthe carbon dioxide has been separated may be cooled in the first vesselfrom its previously-elevated temperature, whereupon the liquid solutionmay once again be used for absorbing carbon dioxide.

In some other embodiments and referring now to FIGS. 1A, 1I, and 3,removing in a first vessel carbon dioxide from the combustion gas 10 atthe block 104 may include adsorbing the carbon dioxide with anadsorption material at a block 126. Given by way of example only and notof limitation, in some embodiments the adsorption material may includewithout limitation activated carbon, a metal-oxide-framework (MOF),silica gel, zeolite, a zeolitic-imidezolate-framework (ZIF), porousmaterial, and/or mesoporous material. In some other embodiments andgiven by way of further examples, the adsorption material may include:RTILs such as imidazolium-based ionic liquids; and/or polymerized roomtemperature ionic liquids (“poly(RTILs)”).

Referring now to FIGS. 1A, 1J, and 3, in some embodiments, if desired,at least one attribute regarding removal of carbon dioxide from thecombustion gas 10 may be determined at a block 128. The determination ofthe attribute at the block 128 may be performed at any point in themethod 100 as desired for a particular application. Given by way ofnon-limiting examples, timing of determination of the attribute maydepend in part on whether the attribute relates to outcome of aprocessing block that has already been performed, whether the attributeis relied upon by any further processing block, or the like. For exampleand referring additionally to FIG. 1K, in some embodiments and ifdesired after the attribute is determined at the block 128, dataindicative of the at least one attribute may be communicated at a block130.

It will be appreciated that the attribute may include any one or moreattributes regarding any one or more aspects whatsoever regardingremoval of carbon dioxide from the combustion gas 10 as desired for aparticular application. Given by way of non-limiting examples, the atleast one attribute regarding removal of carbon dioxide from thecombustion gas 10 may include without limitation any one or more of thefollowing attributes: position of the vehicle 14 where the carbondioxide is removed from the combustion gas 10; time when the carbondioxide is removed from the combustion gas 10; governmental regulationsregarding removing carbon dioxide from combustion gas from an engine ofa vehicle; an amount of pollution in air that is drawn into the engine12; or the like.

It will be appreciated that the material that contains carbon associatedwith the carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10 may includevarious carbon-containing compounds, depending upon whether or not anyadditional processing is performed on the carbon dioxide removed fromthe combustion gas 10. For example, in some embodiments when no furtherprocessing is performed on the carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas 10, the material that contains carbon associated with thecarbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10 may include carbondioxide itself removed from the combustion gas 10.

In some embodiments and referring additionally to FIG. 1L, if desired ata block 132 the material that contains carbon associated with the carbondioxide removed from the combustion gas 10 may be processed. As used inthis application, “processing” means “reacting with a chemicalreactant.” Accordingly, in some embodiments, processing the materialthat contains carbon associated with the carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas 10 at the block 132 may include reacting the materialthat contains carbon associated with the carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas 10 with a chemical reactant. For example and withoutlimitation, in some embodiments and referring additionally to FIG. 1M,processing the material that contains carbon associated with the carbondioxide removed from the combustion gas 10 at the block 132 may includetransforming the material that contains carbon associated with thecarbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10 into a hydrocarbon,such as without limitation a hydrocarbon fuel, at a block 134. Given byway of non-limiting examples, carbon dioxide may be reacted with naturalgas to produce syngas (carbon monoxide and hydrogen) via “dryreforming”. Given by way of further non-limiting examples, carbondioxide may be transformed to a hydrocarbon via chemical methods and viabiochemical methods.

Regarding chemical methods, chemical transformations of carbon dioxidestart with CO₂ (not CO₃ ²⁻, such as soluble carbonate salts like NaHCO₃and Na₂CO₃), so (if carbon dioxide has been adsorbed) adsorbed carbondioxide is first released from the adsorbent (such as by heating orunder reduced pressure). Illustrative chemical methods may include,without limitation, transformation of carbon dioxide to methanol. Invarious embodiments, transformation of carbon dioxide to methanol may beaccomplished via illustrative chemical methods such as withoutlimitation catalytic hydrogenation (such as under high temperature andhigh pressure or via reduction of CO₂ with a silane using a stableN-heterocyclic carbene organocatalyst to produce a methylsilyl etherwhich is subsequently hydrolyzed to yield methanol). In anotherillustrative chemical method, electrochemical reduction of CO₂ inaqueous media generates CO and H₂ at the cathode in a ratio ofapproximately 1:2 while producing O₂ at the anode, and the generated COand H₂ at the cathode are subsequently reacted to form methanol. Inanother illustrative chemical method, in a photoelectrochemical reactionreduction of CO₂ occurs at a p-type semiconductor electrode with ahomogenous pyridinium ion catalyst using light energy.

Further illustrative chemical methods may include, without limitation,transformation of carbon dioxide to methane. In various embodiments,transformation of carbon dioxide to methane may be accomplished viaillustrative chemical methods such as without limitation catalytichydrogenation. For example, in an embodiment hydrogenation of CO₂ over aFischer-Tropsch Co—Pt/Al₂O₃ catalyst yields methane as the major producttogether with small fractions of C₂-C₄ hydrocarbons. In someillustrative embodiments, in a solar photocatalytic reaction that usesarrays of nitrogen-doped titania nanotubes sputter-coated with anultrathin layer of a platinum and/or copper co-catalyst(s), exposure ofCO₂ and water vapor to sunlight produces methane as the major product.In other embodiments, an illustrative thermochemical reaction of CO₂ andH₂O yields methane by using reduced samarium-doped ceria that has beentreated with a base-metal catalyst (such as Ni).

Further illustrative chemical methods may include, without limitation,transformation of carbon dioxide to a Fischer-Tropsch product. Given byway of non-limiting example, electroreduction of CO₂ over anun-electropolished Cu-electrode can produce hydrocarbons with adistribution similar to that obtained from the Fischer-Tropsch reactionof syngas.

Illustrative biochemical methods may include, without limitation,transformation of carbon dioxide to isobutyraldehyde and isobutanol. Insome embodiments, genetically engineered cyanobacteria can converteither CO₂ or NaHCO₃ to isobutyraldehyde, and isobutyraldehyde isreadily transformed to isobutanol. In some other embodiments,genetically engineered photosynthetic microorganisms can produceisoprene from CO₂ or CO₃ ²⁻.

As a further example and without limitation, in some other embodimentsand referring additionally to FIG. 1N, processing the material thatcontains carbon associated with the carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas 10 may include transforming the material that containscarbon associated with the carbon dioxide removed from the combustiongas 10 into at least one compound chosen from a carbonate and abicarbonate at a block 136. Given by way of non-limiting examples, thecarbon dioxide may be reacted with a hydroxide, such as an alkalihydroxide. For example, the carbon dioxide may be reacted with sodiumhydroxide to form sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate or withpotassium hydroxide to form potassium carbonate or potassiumbicarbonate, as desired.

As a further example and without limitation, in some other embodimentsprocessing the material that contains carbon associated with the carbondioxide removed from the combustion gas 10 may include hydrating thematerial that contains carbon associated with the carbon dioxide removedfrom the combustion gas 10 to form carbonic acid. In embodiments inwhich carbonic acid is formed, the carbonic acid may be reacted with acarbonate, if desired.

In short, it will be appreciated that the material that contains carbonassociated with the carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10may be reacted with any chemical reactant as desired.

It will also be appreciated that the material that contains carbonassociated with the carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10may be stored while being processed. However, the material that containscarbon associated with the carbon dioxide removed from the combustiongas 10 need not be stored in order to be processed. Accordingly, in someembodiments, the material that contains carbon associated with thecarbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10 may be processedwithout being stored.

In various embodiments the method 100 may include any one or moreadditional process blocks related to the material that contains carbonassociated with carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10 and/orremoval of carbon dioxide from the combustion gas 10. Several exampleswill be given below by way of illustration and not of limitation.

For example and referring to FIGS. 1A, 1O, and 3, in some embodiments anamount of stored material that contains carbon associated with thecarbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10 may be measured at ablock 138. The measurement performed at the block 138 may measure volumeand/or weight, as desired for a particular application. It will beappreciated that any measurement technique and sensors may be used asdesired. In some other embodiments and referring additionally to FIG.1P, the amount of stored material that contains carbon associated withthe carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10 may be displayedat a block 140.

In some embodiments and referring to FIGS. 1A, 1O, 1Q, and 3, an amountof storage capacity available for storing material that contains carbonassociated with the carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10may be determined at a block 142. For example, the amount of storedmaterial that contains carbon associated with the carbon dioxide removedfrom the combustion gas 10 (that was measured at the block 138) may besubtracted from the total amount of storage capacity available in anempty second vessel. In some embodiments and referring additionally toFIG. 1R, the amount of storage capacity available for storing materialthat contains carbon associated with the carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas 10 may be displayed at a block 144.

In some embodiments and referring to FIGS. 1A, 1O, 1Q, 15, and 3, a rateof storing material that contains carbon associated with the carbondioxide removed from the combustion gas 10 may be determined at a block146. For example, the amount of stored material that contains carbonassociated with the carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10(that was measured at the block 138) may be divided by time that elapsedduring storage of the material that contains carbon associated with thecarbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10.

Referring additionally to FIG. 1T, in some embodiments an amount of timeremaining to fill the storage capacity available for storing materialthat contains carbon associated with the carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas 10 may be determined at a block 148. For example, theamount of storage capacity available for storing material that containscarbon associated with the carbon dioxide removed from the combustiongas 10 (that was determined at the block 142) may be divided by the rateof storing material that contains carbon associated with the carbondioxide removed from the combustion gas 10 (that was determined at theblock 146). Referring additionally to FIG. 1U, in some embodiments theamount of time remaining to fill the storage capacity available forstoring carbon material that contains carbon associated with the carbondioxide removed from the combustion gas 10 (that was determined at theblock 148) may be displayed at a block 150.

Referring additionally to FIG. 1V, in some embodiments a distancetravelable in the vehicle 14 with the amount of storage capacityavailable for storing material that contains carbon associated with thecarbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10 (that was determinedat the block 142) may be determined at a block 152. For example, theamount of time remaining to fill the storage capacity available forstoring carbon material that contains carbon associated with the carbondioxide removed from the combustion gas 10 (that was determined at theblock 148) may be multiplied by speed of the vehicle 14. Referringadditionally to FIG. 1W, in some embodiments the distance travelable inthe vehicle 14 with the amount of storage capacity available for storingmaterial that contains carbon associated with the carbon dioxide removedfrom the combustion gas 10 (that was determined at the block 152) may bedisplayed at a block 154.

Referring now to FIGS. 1A, 1X, and 3, in some embodiments time whencarbon dioxide is removed from the combustion gas 10 may be recorded ata block 156. Referring now to FIGS. 1A, 1Y, and 3, in some embodimentsposition of the vehicle 14 where carbon dioxide is removed from thecombustion gas 10 may be recorded at a block 158. Given by way ofnon-limiting example, position information of the vehicle 14 may beprovided by a global positioning system (GPS) unit or the like.

Referring now to FIGS. 1A, 1Z, and 3, in some embodiments removingcarbon dioxide from combustion gas from an engine of a vehicle at theblock 104 may include removing carbon dioxide from combustion gas froman engine of a vehicle when a combustion gas exhaust rate is less than apredetermined exhaust rate at a block 160. In some cases, thepredetermined exhaust rate may approximately represent a maximum inputrate of combustion gas that can be removed at the block 104, therebyhelping to mitigate inefficiencies and/or buildup of back-pressure.

In some embodiments and referring additionally to FIG. 1AA, at a block162 the combustion gas 10 may be exhausted to atmosphere when thecombustion gas exhaust rate is at least the predetermined exhaust rate.In such cases, combustion gas in excess of that which may be removed atthe block 104 is instead exhausted to atmosphere, which can helpmitigate inefficiencies and/or buildup of back-pressure. In some otherembodiments and referring additionally to FIG. 1AB, at a block 164 thecombustion gas 10 may be stored in a third vessel when the combustiongas exhaust rate is at least the predetermined exhaust rate. In suchcases, the combustion gas 10 that was stored in the third vessel at theblock 164 may be available for processing at the block 104 (that is,removal of carbon dioxide) when conditions permit (such as when theengine 12 is shut down or when a combination of the combustion gas 10from the engine 12 and the combustion gas 10 stored in the third vesselis within processing capabilities at the block 104).

Referring now to FIGS. 1A, 1AC, and 3, in some embodiments dataindicative of removal of carbon dioxide from the combustion gas 10 maybe communicated at a block 166. Given by way of non-limiting example andreferring additionally to FIG. 1AD, in some embodiments communicatingdata indicative of removal of carbon dioxide from the combustion gas 10at the block 166 may include wirelessly transmitting from a vehicle thedata indicative of removal of carbon dioxide from the combustion gas 10.For example, the data indicative of removal of carbon dioxide from thecombustion gas 10 may be wirelessly transmitted via radiofrequencycommunications. In some other embodiments and referring to FIGS. 1A,1AC, 1AE, and 3, communicating data indicative of removal of carbondioxide from the combustion gas 10 at the block 166 may includedisplaying from a vehicle a visual indicator of data indicative ofremoval of carbon dioxide from the combustion gas 10 at a block 170. Itwill be appreciated that any type of visual indicator may be used asdesired.

It will also be appreciated that data may be further indicative ofvarious illustrative aspects of removal of carbon dioxide from thecombustion gas 10. Given by way of examples and not of limitation, thedata indicative of removal of carbon dioxide from the combustion gas 10may be further indicative further indicative of without limitation:identification of the vehicle 12; identification of a user; amount ofcarbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10; location at whichcarbon dioxide is removed from the combustion gas 10; time at whichcarbon dioxide is removed from the combustion gas 10; and/or form inwhich material that contains carbon associated with the carbon dioxideremoved from the combustion gas 10 is stored.

Referring now to FIGS. 1A, 1AF, and 3, in some embodiments at least oneparameter that is associated with removal of carbon dioxide from thecombustion gas 10 may be modified at a block 172. Given by way ofnon-limiting example and referring additionally to FIG. 1AG, in someembodiments modifying at least one parameter that is associated withremoval of carbon dioxide from the combustion gas 10 at the block 172may include varying at least one setting of an engine at a block 174.For example, a setting of the engine 12 that may be varied at the block174 may include richness of a fuel-air mixture.

In some other embodiments and referring now to FIGS. 1A, 1AF, 1AH, and3, modifying at least one parameter that is associated with removal ofcarbon dioxide from the combustion gas 10 at the block 172 may includevarying type of fuel at a block 176. Given by way of non-limitingexamples, varying type of fuel may include without limitation: switchinga hydrocarbon fuel between gasoline fuel and diesel fuel; switching fuelbetween a hydrocarbon fuel and electricity in a hybrid vehicle; varyingoctane rating of a hydrocarbon fuel; varying sulfur content of a dieselfuel; switching between a hydrocarbon fuel and electricity in a hybridvehicle; and/or the like.

In some other embodiments and referring now to FIGS. 1A, 1AF, 1AI, and3, modifying at least one parameter that is associated with removal ofcarbon dioxide from the combustion gas 10 at the block 172 may includevarying a setting of a catalytic converter at a block 178. Referringadditionally to FIG. 1AJ, in some embodiments varying a setting of acatalytic converter at the block 178 may include varying temperature ofcombustion gas from an engine of a vehicle at a block 180.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A and 3 and given by way of overview, anillustrative system 200 is provided for removing carbon dioxide from thecombustion gas 10 from the engine 12 of the vehicle 10. A vessel 202 isconfigured to remove carbon dioxide from the combustion gas 10 from theengine 12 of the vehicle 14. A vessel 204 is configured to storematerial that contains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removedfrom the combustion gas 10. A removal mechanism 206 is configured toremove from the vehicle 14 the material that contains carbon associatedwith carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10. Illustrativedetails set forth by way of example only and not of limitation will nowbe explained.

In some embodiments, the system 200 and its components may be configuredto perform process blocks of the method 100 (FIG. 1A). For example, thevessel 202 may be configured to perform operations at the block 104(FIG. 1A), the vessel 204 may be configured to perform operations at theblock 106 (FIG. 1A), and the removal mechanism 206 may be configured toperform operations at the block 108 (FIG. 1A). Other components of thesystem 200 may be configured to perform other process blocks of themethod 100. In such cases, process details that have already beendiscussed in the context of the method 100 will not be repeated.

The vehicle 14 and the engine 12 have been discussed above. For sake ofbrevity, their details need not be repeated for an understanding.

Still referring to FIGS. 2A and 3, in some embodiments the vessel 204may be vessel configured to be disposed on the vehicle 14. In someembodiments the vessel 204 may be removable from the vehicle 14, and insome embodiments the vessel 204 may be removably replaceable on thevehicle 14. It will be appreciated that the vessel 204 may be any typeof storage vessel as desired that is removably replaceable on thevehicle 14. Given by way of non-limiting examples, the vessel 204 mayinclude without limitation a bottle, reservoir, tank, or the like. Thevessel 204 may be sized as desired for a particular application. Thevessel 204 may be made from any material as desired for a particularapplication.

Given by way of non-limiting example for illustration purposes only, insome embodiments the vessel 204 (that contains carbon associated withthe carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10) may be configuredto be disposed off the vehicle 14. That is, in some cases the vessel 204may be configured such that the vessel 204 may be removed from thevehicle 14 and brought to a collection or exchange facility that acceptscontainers (such as the vessel 204) that contain carbon associated withthe carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10. However, it willbe appreciated that, in other applications, the vessel 204 need not bebrought to such a collection or exchange facility.

In some embodiments (such as in some of the applications discussedabove), the removal mechanism 206 may include the vessel 204. However,in some embodiments the removal mechanism 206 may include an outletport.

Still referring to FIGS. 2A and 3, the vessel 202 may be any type ofreaction vessel as desired for a particular application. The vessel 202may be sized as desired for a particular application.

In some embodiments the vessel 204 may have a pressure that is less thanthe pressure of the vessel 202. In such cases, the pressure differentialcan help fill the vessel 204 and help mitigate back-flow from the vessel204 to the vessel 202. As discussed above, in some embodiments (anddepending upon the removal modality) a higher pressure may be entailedfor removing carbon dioxide than is entailed for storing carbon dioxide.

Referring additionally to FIGS. 2B and 2C, in various embodiments thevessel 202 may contain any type of liquid solution 208 as desired, suchas a liquid solvent or the like. The liquid solution 208 has beendiscussed above (in the context of the method 100) and its details neednot be repeated for an understanding.

As shown in FIG. 2B, in some embodiments the vessel 202 may be furtherconfigured to pass the combustion gas through the liquid solution 208.In some arrangements the combustion gas may be “bubbled up” through theliquid solution 208. In some other arrangements the combustion gas maybe circulated through the liquid solution 208 via forced circulation. Asshown in FIG. 2C, in some other embodiments the vessel 202 may befurther configured to pass the combustion gas over a surface 210 of theliquid solution 208.

In some embodiments the vessel 202 may be configured to separate theremoved carbon dioxide from the liquid solution 208. For example,temperature inside the vessel 202 may be raised sufficiently to drivethe carbon dioxide out of the liquid solution 208, and the carbondioxide can be transferred to the vessel 204 for storage. In some otherembodiments, the vessel 202 may be further configured to recover theliquid solution. For example, the liquid solution 208 (from which thecarbon dioxide has been separated) may be cooled in the vessel 202 fromits previously-elevated temperature, whereupon the liquid solution 208may once again be used for absorbing carbon dioxide.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A, 2D, and 3, in some other embodiments thevessel 202 may be configured to adsorb the carbon dioxide with anadsorption material 212. The adsorption material 212 has been discussedabove in the context of the method 100 and its details need not berepeated for an understanding.

Referring now to FIGS. 2E and 3, in some embodiments the system 200 mayalso include electrical circuitry 214 that is configured to determine atleast one attribute regarding removal of carbon dioxide from thecombustion gas 10.

In a general sense, those skilled in the art will recognize that thevarious aspects described herein which can be implemented, individuallyand/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware,and/or any combination thereof can be viewed as being composed ofvarious types of “electrical circuitry.” Consequently, as used herein“electrical circuitry” includes, but is not limited to, electricalcircuitry having at least one discrete electrical circuit, electricalcircuitry having at least one integrated circuit, electrical circuitryhaving at least one application specific integrated circuit, electricalcircuitry forming a general purpose computing device configured by acomputer program (e.g., a general purpose computer configured by acomputer program which at least partially carries out processes and/ordevices described herein, or a microprocessor configured by a computerprogram which at least partially carries out processes and/or devicesdescribed herein), electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g.,forms of memory (e.g., random access, flash, read only, etc.)), and/orelectrical circuitry forming a communications device (e.g., a modem,communications switch, optical-electrical equipment, etc.). Those havingskill in the art will recognize that the subject matter described hereinmay be implemented in an analog or digital fashion or some combinationthereof.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that at least a portion of thedevices and/or processes described herein can be integrated into a dataprocessing system. Those having skill in the art will recognize that adata processing system generally includes one or more of a system unithousing, a video display device, memory such as volatile or non-volatilememory, processors such as microprocessors or digital signal processors,computational entities such as operating systems, drivers, graphicaluser interfaces, and applications programs, one or more interactiondevices (e.g., a touch pad, a touch screen, an antenna, etc.), and/orcontrol systems including feedback loops and control motors (e.g.,feedback for sensing position and/or velocity; control motors for movingand/or adjusting components and/or quantities). A data processing systemmay be implemented utilizing suitable commercially available components,such as those typically found in data computing/communication and/ornetwork computing/communication systems.

Referring additionally to FIG. 2F, in some embodiments the system 200may also include a communications system 216 that is configured tocommunicate data indicative of the attribute. The communications system216 may be any type of communications system as desired, such as aradiofrequency communications system, a visual communications system, anaural communications system, or the like. Nonlimiting examples of the atleast one attribute will be discussed below.

The attribute may be any attribute as desired regarding removal ofcarbon dioxide from the combustion gas 10. Given by way of examples onlyand not of limitation, in various embodiments the at least one attributemay include without limitation any one or more of the followingattributes: position of the vehicle 14 where the carbon dioxide isremoved from the combustion gas 10; time when the carbon dioxide isremoved from the combustion gas 10; governmental regulations regardingremoving carbon dioxide from combustion gas from an engine of a vehicle;and/or an amount of pollution in air drawn into the engine 12 from whichthe carbon dioxide is removed from the combustion gas 10.

As discussed above, it will be appreciated that the material thatcontains carbon associated with the carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas 10 may include various carbon-containing compounds,depending upon whether or not any additional processing is performed onthe carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10. For example, insome embodiments when no further processing is performed on the carbondioxide removed from the combustion gas 10, the material that containscarbon associated with the carbon dioxide removed from the combustiongas 10 may include carbon dioxide itself removed from the combustion gas10.

However, in some other embodiments, the vessel 202 and/or the vessel 204may be further configured to process the material that contains carbonassociated with carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10. Forexample, in some embodiments the vessel 202 and/or the vessel 204 may befurther configured to react the material that contains carbon associatedwith carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10 with a chemicalreactant, as discussed above. Given by way of non-limiting examples, insome embodiments, the vessel 202 and/or the vessel 204 may be furtherconfigured to transform the removed carbon dioxide into at least onecompound chosen from a hydrocarbon, a carbonate, a bicarbonate, andcarbonic acid, as discussed above.

In various embodiments the system 200 may include any one or moreadditional components that are configured to perform processes relatedto the material that contains carbon associated with carbon dioxideremoved from the combustion gas 10 and/or removal of carbon dioxide fromthe combustion gas 10. For example, in embodiments in which the materialthat contains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas 10 is reacted with a chemical reactant, if desired thevessel 202 and/or the vessel 204 may be partitioned to store thechemical reactant. In some other embodiments in which the material thatcontains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas 10 is reacted with a chemical reactant, if desired thesystem 200 may include a separate vessel (not shown) in which thechemical reactant is stored.

In that regard, some embodiments of the system 200 may be considered anelectro-mechanical system. Several examples will be given below by wayof illustration and not of limitation. In a general sense, those skilledin the art will recognize that the various embodiments described hereincan be implemented, individually and/or collectively, by various typesof electro-mechanical systems having a wide range of electricalcomponents such as hardware, software, firmware, and/or virtually anycombination thereof; and a wide range of components that may impartmechanical force or motion such as rigid bodies, spring or torsionalbodies, hydraulics, electro-magnetically actuated devices, and/orvirtually any combination thereof. Consequently, as used herein“electro-mechanical system” includes, but is not limited to, electricalcircuitry operably coupled with a transducer (e.g., an actuator, amotor, a piezoelectric crystal, a Micro Electro Mechanical System(MEMS), etc.), electrical circuitry having at least one discreteelectrical circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one integratedcircuit, electrical circuitry having at least one application specificintegrated circuit, electrical circuitry forming a general purposecomputing device configured by a computer program (e.g., a generalpurpose computer configured by a computer program which at leastpartially carries out processes and/or devices described herein, or amicroprocessor configured by a computer program which at least partiallycarries out processes and/or devices described herein), electricalcircuitry forming a memory device (e.g., forms of memory (e.g., randomaccess, flash, read only, etc.)), electrical circuitry forming acommunications device (e.g., a modem, communications switch,optical-electrical equipment, etc.), and/or any non-electrical analogthereto, such as optical or other analogs. Those skilled in the art willalso appreciate that examples of electro-mechanical systems include butare not limited to a variety of consumer electronics systems, medicaldevices, as well as other systems such as motorized transport systems,factory automation systems, security systems, and/orcommunication/computing systems. Those skilled in the art will recognizethat electro-mechanical as used herein is not necessarily limited to asystem that has both electrical and mechanical actuation except ascontext may dictate otherwise.

For example and referring to FIGS. 2G and 3, in some embodiments thesystem 200 may also include a measurement system 218 that is configuredto measure an amount of stored material that contains carbon associatedwith carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10. The measurementsystem 218 may include any suitable sensor as desired for sensing storedmaterial that contains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removedfrom the combustion gas 10. The measurement system 218 may also includeelectrical circuitry as desired to determine the amount of storedmaterial that contains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removedfrom the combustion gas 10.

Referring additionally to FIG. 2H, in some embodiments the system 200may also include a display device 220 that is configured to display theamount of stored material that contains carbon associated with carbondioxide removed from the combustion gas 10. It will be appreciated thatthe display device 220 may be any type of display device as desired.

In various embodiments, the measurement system 218 and the displaydevice may be further configured to measure and display, respectively,other parameters as desired. For example, in some other embodiments themeasurement system 218 may be further configured to determine an amountof storage capacity available for storing material that contains carbonassociated with carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10. Thatis, in such applications the measurement system 218 can determine theamount of storage capacity available in the vessel 204. In some casesthe display device 220 may be configured to display the amount ofstorage capacity available for storing material that contains carbonassociated with carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10.

In some other embodiments the measurement system 218 may be furtherconfigured to determine a rate of storing material that contains carbonassociated with carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10. Thatis, electrical circuitry in the measurement system 218 can divide theamount of stored material that contains carbon associated with thecarbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10 by time that elapsedduring storage of the material that contains carbon associated with thecarbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10.

In some other embodiments the measurement system 218 may be furtherconfigured to determine an amount of time remaining to fill the storagecapacity available for storing material that contains carbon associatedwith carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10. For example, theamount of storage capacity available for storing material that containscarbon associated with the carbon dioxide removed from the combustiongas 10 may be divided by the rate of storing material that containscarbon associated with the carbon dioxide removed from the combustiongas 10. In some embodiments the display device 220 may be configured todisplay the amount of time remaining to fill the storage capacityavailable for storing material that contains carbon associated withcarbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10.

In some embodiments the measurement system 218 may be further configuredto determine a distance travelable in the vehicle 14 with the amount ofstorage capacity available for storing material that contains carbonassociated with carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10. Forexample, the amount of time remaining to fill the storage capacityavailable for storing carbon material that contains carbon associatedwith the carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10 may bemultiplied by speed of the vehicle 14. In some embodiments the displaydevice 220 may be configured to display the distance travelable in thevehicle 14 with the amount of storage capacity available for storingmaterial that contains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removedfrom the combustion gas 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 2I and 3, in some embodiments the system 200 mayinclude a monitoring system 222 that is configured to record time whencarbon dioxide is removed from the combustion gas 10. In such cases, themonitoring system may include any electrical circuitry suitable forcreating an electronic time stamp or an electronic date-time stamp, asdesired.

In some other embodiments, the monitoring system 222 may be configuredto record position of the vehicle 14 where carbon dioxide is removedfrom the combustion gas 10. In such cases, the monitoring system 222 mayinclude any without limitation a global positioning system (GPS) or anyelectrical circuitry as desired for determining position of the vehicle14, such as LORAN, or an inertial navigation system (INS), or anyelectrical circuitry configured to perform dead reckoning from aninitial fix of position, or the like.

Referring back to FIGS. 2A and 3, in various embodiments the vessel 202may be further configured to remove carbon dioxide from the combustiongas 10 when a combustion gas exhaust rate is less than a predeterminedexhaust rate. In some cases, the predetermined exhaust rate mayapproximately represent a maximum input rate of combustion gas that canbe removed by the vessel 202, thereby helping to mitigate inefficienciesand/or buildup of back-pressure in the vessel 202 or the engine 12.

In some embodiments and referring now to FIGS. 2J and 3, the vessel 202may be further configured to exhaust the combustion gas 10 to atmospherewhen the combustion gas exhaust rate is at least the predeterminedexhaust rate. For example, the vessel 202 may include a pressure reliefdevice, such as a pressure relief valve, with a pressure set point abovepressures associated with combustion gas exhaust rates below thepredetermined exhaust rate. When the combustion gas exhaust rate exceedsthe predetermined exhaust rate (and, thus, the maximum input rate ofcombustion gas that can be removed by the vessel 202), pressure withinthe vessel 202 can build up toward the pressure set point of thepressure relief device. When the pressure reaches the pressure setpoint, the pressure relief device can be activated, thereby portingcombustion gas 10 to atmosphere.

In some other embodiments and referring now to FIGS. 2K and 3, thesystem 200 may further include a vessel 224 that is configured to storethe combustion gas 10 when the combustion gas exhaust rate is at leastthe predetermined exhaust rate. For example, the combustion gas 10 maybe ported to the vessel 224 (instead of to atmosphere) when a pressurerelief device as described above is activated. In such a case, thecombustion gas stored in the vessel 224 may be sent to the vessel 202for removal of carbon dioxide at other times as desired, such as whenthe vessel 202 can accommodate input of additional combustion gas fromthe vessel 224.

Referring now to FIGS. 2L and 3, in some embodiments the system 200 mayinclude a communications system 226 that is configured to communicatedata indicative of removal of carbon dioxide from the combustion gas 10.The communications system 226 may be any type of communications systemas desired, such as a radiofrequency communications system, a visualcommunications system, an aural communications system, or the like. Tothat end, in some embodiments the communications system 226 may befurther configured to wirelessly transmit from the vehicle 14 the dataindicative of removal of carbon dioxide from the combustion gas 10. Insome other embodiments the communications system 226 may be furtherconfigured to display from the vehicle 14 a visual indicator of dataindicative of removal of carbon dioxide from the combustion gas 10.

The data indicative of removal of carbon dioxide from the combustion gas10 may include any data as desired. Given by way of nonlimitingexamples, the data indicative of removal of carbon dioxide from thecombustion gas 10 may be further indicative of any one or more of thefollowing: identification of the vehicle 14; identification of a user;amount of carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas 10; location atwhich carbon dioxide is removed from the combustion gas 10; time atwhich carbon dioxide is removed from the combustion gas 10; and/or formin which material that contains carbon associated with the carbondioxide removed from the combustion gas 10 is stored.

Referring back to FIGS. 2A and 3 and as discussed above, at least oneparameter that is associated with removal of carbon dioxide from thecombustion gas 10 may be modifiable. Given by way of nonlimitingexamples, the modifiable parameter may include any one or more of thefollowing: at least one modifiable setting of an engine, such asrichness of a fuel-air mixture; type of fuel; and/or a modifiablesetting of a catalytic converter, such as temperature of the combustiongas 10.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the vehicle 14 includes a vehicle frame 16. Theengine 12 is disposed on the vehicle frame 16. The engine 12 and typesof vehicles that may be embodied as the vehicle 14 have been discussedabove and need not be repeated.

The vehicle 14 also includes the system 200 for removing carbon dioxidefrom the combustion 10 gas from the engine 12. As discussed above, thesystem 200 includes the vessel 202 that is configured to remove carbondioxide from the combustion gas 10, the vessel 204 that is configured tostore material that contains carbon associated with carbon dioxideremoved from the combustion gas 10, and the removal mechanism 206 thatis configured to remove from the vehicle 14 the material that containscarbon associated with carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas10.

The system 200 has been described above with reference to FIGS. 2A-2L.The above-description is hereby incorporated into this discussion of thevehicle 14. The discussion of the system 200 need not be repeated for anunderstanding and, in the interest of brevity, the discussion of thesystem 200 is not repeated.

It will be appreciated that the vehicle 14 is shown in FIG. 3 as anautomobile for purposes of illustration only. No limitation of any sortwhatsoever is intended regarding form of the vehicle 14 and is not to beinferred. To that end, the vehicle 14 may include any type of vehiclewhatsoever—for travel associated with sea, air, or land—that includesthe engine 12 from which it may be desired to remove carbon dioxide fromthe combustion gas 10.

Various additional methods related to aspects of removal of carbondioxide from combustion gas from an engine of a vehicle are disclosed.These illustrative methods will be discussed below.

For example and referring now to FIG. 4A, a method 400 starts at a block402. At a block 404 at least one parameter that is associated withremoval of carbon dioxide from combustion gas from an engine of avehicle is modified. The method 400 stops at a block 406.

Referring to FIG. 4B, in some embodiments modifying at least oneparameter that is associated with removal of carbon dioxide fromcombustion gas from an engine of a vehicle at the block 404 may includevarying at least one setting of an engine at a block 408. Given by wayof nonlimiting example, the setting of an engine may include richness ofa fuel-air mixture.

Referring to FIG. 4C, in some embodiments modifying at least oneparameter that is associated with removal of carbon dioxide fromcombustion gas from an engine of a vehicle at the block 404 may includevarying type of fuel at a block 410.

Referring to FIG. 4D, in some embodiments modifying at least oneparameter that is associated with removal of carbon dioxide fromcombustion gas from an engine of a vehicle at the block 404 may includevarying a setting of a catalytic converter at a block 412. Given by wayof nonlimiting example, varying a setting of a catalytic converter atthe block 412 may include varying temperature of combustion gas from anengine of a vehicle at a block 414.

As another example and referring now to FIG. 5A, a method 500 starts ata block 502. At a block 504, material that contains carbon associatedwith carbon dioxide removed from combustion gas from an engine of avehicle is stored in a removably replaceable vessel. In someembodiments, the material that contains carbon associated with carbondioxide removed from combustion gas from an engine of a vehicle maystored in the removably replaceable vessel while the removablyreplaceable vessel is installed in or on the vehicle. However, theremovably replaceable vessel need not be installed in or on the vehiclefor the material that contains carbon associated with carbon dioxideremoved from combustion gas from the engine of the vehicle to be storedin the removably replaceable vessel. In some embodiments, the vehiclemay be stationary and the material that contains carbon associated withcarbon dioxide removed from combustion gas from the engine of thevehicle may be stored in a removably replaceable vessel that is notinstalled in or on the vehicle. In such embodiments, the material thatcontains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removed from combustiongas from the engine of the vehicle may be offloaded from the vehicle tothe removably replaceable vessel via an outlet port and suitable piping.The method 500 stops at a block 506.

As discussed above, the material that contains carbon associated withthe carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas may include variouscarbon-containing compounds, depending upon whether or not anyadditional processing is performed on the carbon dioxide removed fromthe combustion gas. For example, in some embodiments when no furtherprocessing is performed on the carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas, the material that contains carbon associated with thecarbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas may include carbondioxide itself removed from the combustion gas.

In some other embodiments and referring additionally to FIG. 5B, ifdesired at a block 508 the stored material that contains carbonassociated with the carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas maybe processed. For example, in some embodiments processing the storedmaterial that contains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removedfrom the combustion gas 10 at the block 508 may include reacting thestored material that contains carbon associated with carbon dioxideremoved from the combustion gas 10 with a chemical reactant, asdiscussed above. For example and without limitation, in some embodimentsand referring additionally to FIG. 5C, processing the stored materialthat contains carbon associated with the carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas at the block 508 may include transforming the storedmaterial that contains carbon associated with the carbon dioxide removedfrom the combustion gas into a hydrocarbon at a block 510, as discussedabove.

As a further example and without limitation, in some other embodimentsand referring additionally to FIG. 5D, processing the stored materialthat contains carbon associated with the carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas may include transforming the stored material thatcontains carbon associated with the carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas into at least one compound chosen from a carbonate and abicarbonate. Given by way of non-limiting examples, the carbon dioxidemay be reacted with sodium hydroxide to form sodium carbonate or sodiumbicarbonate. As a further non-limiting example, processing the storedmaterial that contains carbon associated with the carbon dioxide removedfrom the combustion gas at the block 508 may include hydrating carbondioxide to form carbonic acid.

In various embodiments the method 500 may include any one or moreadditional process blocks related to the material that contains carbonassociated with storage of material that contains carbon associated withcarbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas. Several examples will begiven below by way of illustration and not of limitation.

For example and referring to FIGS. 5A and 5E, in some embodiments anamount of stored material that contains carbon associated with thecarbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas may be measured at ablock 514. The measurement performed at the block 514 may measure volumeand/or weight, as desired for a particular application. It will beappreciated that any measurement technique and sensors may be used asdesired. In some other embodiments and referring additionally to FIG.5F, the amount of stored material that contains carbon associated withthe carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas may be displayed at ablock 516.

In some embodiments and referring to FIGS. 5A and 5G, an amount ofstorage capacity available for storing material that contains carbonassociated with the carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas maybe determined at a block 518. For example, the amount of stored materialthat contains carbon associated with the carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas (that was measured at the block 514) may be subtractedfrom the total amount of storage capacity available in an empty secondvessel. In some embodiments and referring additionally to FIG. 5H, theamount of storage capacity available for storing material that containscarbon associated with the carbon dioxide removed from the combustiongas may be displayed at a block 520.

In some embodiments and referring to FIGS. 5A and 5I, a rate of storingmaterial that contains carbon associated with the carbon dioxide removedfrom the combustion gas may be determined at a block 522. For example,the amount of stored material that contains carbon associated with thecarbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas (that was measured at theblock 514) may be divided by time that elapsed during storage of thematerial that contains carbon associated with the carbon dioxide removedfrom the combustion gas.

Referring additionally to FIG. 5J, in some embodiments an amount of timeremaining to fill the storage capacity available for storing materialthat contains carbon associated with the carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas may be determined at a block 524. For example, the amountof storage capacity available for storing material that contains carbonassociated with the carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas (thatwas determined at the block 518) may be divided by the rate of storingmaterial that contains carbon associated with the carbon dioxide removedfrom the combustion gas (that was determined at the block 522).Referring additionally to FIG. 5K, in some embodiments the amount oftime remaining to fill the storage capacity available for storing carbonmaterial that contains carbon associated with the carbon dioxide removedfrom the combustion gas (that was determined at the block 524) may bedisplayed at a block 526.

Referring additionally to FIG. 5L, in some embodiments a distancetravelable in the vehicle with the amount of storage capacity availablefor storing material that contains carbon associated with the carbondioxide removed from the combustion gas (that was determined at theblock 518) may be determined at a block 528. For example, the amount oftime remaining to fill the storage capacity available for storing carbonmaterial that contains carbon associated with the carbon dioxide removedfrom the combustion gas (that was determined at the block 524) may bemultiplied by speed of the vehicle. Referring additionally to FIG. 5M,in some embodiments the distance travelable in the vehicle with theamount of storage capacity available for storing material that containscarbon associated with the carbon dioxide removed from the combustiongas (that was determined at the block 528) may be displayed at a block530.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5N, in some embodiments at a block 532 avalue may be determined for the amount of stored material that containscarbon associated with carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas.In various embodiments, the value for the stored material that containscarbon associated with carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gasmay be based on quantity of the carbon removed or based on quantity ofequivalent carbon dioxide removed. In some embodiments, the value forthe stored material that contains carbon associated with carbon dioxideremoved from the combustion gas may be determined based upon, in part,by one or more weighting factors that each depend on value of theirrespective attribute. The attribute for determining value of a weightingfactor may be any one or more of the attributes discussed herein.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5O, in some embodiments at a block 534 thestored material that contains carbon associated with carbon dioxideremoved from the combustion gas may be transferred from the removablyreplaceable vessel.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5P, in some embodiments the removablyreplaceable vessel may be removed from the vehicle at a block 536.Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5Q, in some embodiments the removablyreplaceable vessel may be replaced in a vehicle at a block 538. It willbe appreciated that the vehicle in which the removably replaceablevessel is replaced need not be the same vehicle from which the removablereplaceable vessel was removed. In some embodiments the vehicle in whichthe removably replaceable vessel is replaced may be the same vehiclefrom which the removable replaceable vessel was removed. In some otherembodiments the vehicle in which the removably replaceable vessel isreplaced may be a different vehicle from which the removable replaceablevessel was removed.

Referring now to FIG. 11A, in some embodiments a method 1100 isprovided. The method 1100 starts at a block 1102. At a block 1104 dataindicative of removal of carbon dioxide from combustion gas from anengine of a vehicle is communicated. The method 1100 stops at a block1106.

Referring additionally to FIG. 11B, in some embodiments communicatingdata indicative of removal of carbon dioxide from combustion gas from anengine of a vehicle at the block 1104 may include wirelesslytransmitting from a vehicle the data indicative of removal of carbondioxide from the combustion gas at a block 1108.

Referring now to FIGS. 11A and 11C, in some embodiments communicatingdata indicative of removal of carbon dioxide from combustion gas from anengine of a vehicle at the block 1104 may include displaying from avehicle a visual indicator of the data indicative of removal of carbondioxide from the combustion gas at a block 1110.

Referring now to FIGS. 11A-11C, in various embodiments the dataindicative of removal of carbon dioxide from combustion gas from anengine of a vehicle may be further indicative of: identification of avehicle; identification of a user; amount of carbon dioxide removed fromthe combustion gas; location at which carbon dioxide is removed from thecombustion gas; time at which carbon dioxide is removed from thecombustion gas; and/or form in which material that contains carbonassociated with the carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas isstored.

Managing Carbon Dioxide Emissions from an Engine of a Vehicle

Referring now to FIG. 6A and by way of overview, a method 600 isprovided for managing carbon dioxide emissions from an engine of avehicle. The method 600 starts at a block 602. At a block 604 a value ofat least one attribute regarding removal of carbon dioxide fromcombustion gas from an engine of a vehicle is determined. The method 600stops at a block 606.

Referring briefly additionally to FIG. 6B, in some embodiments dataindicative of the at least one attribute may be communicated at a block608. It will be appreciated that the attribute may be communicated inany manner as desired, such as via radiofrequency (RF) communication,digital or analog electronic communication, visual communication, auralcommunication, or the like.

Referring back to FIG. 6A, the attribute determined at the block 604 mayinclude any one or more attributes whatsoever regarding removal ofcarbon dioxide from combustion gas from an engine of a vehicle. Severalexamples will be discussed below by way of illustration only and not oflimitation.

For example, in various embodiments the attribute determined at theblock 604 may include without limitation: position of a vehicle wherethe carbon dioxide is removed from the combustion gas; time when thecarbon dioxide is removed from the combustion gas; governmentalregulations regarding removing carbon dioxide from combustion gas froman engine of a vehicle; an amount of pollution in air drawn into anengine from which the carbon dioxide is removed from the combustion gas;monetary value of the removed carbon dioxide; and/or an amount ofstorage capacity available on the vehicle to store material thatcontains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas.

As a further example, in various embodiments the attribute determined atthe block 604 may include a predetermined amount of material thatcontains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas that can be stored in a predetermined time period. Forexample, the predetermined time period may correspond to a time periodfor the vehicle to travel to a predetermined location configured foroffloading material that contains carbon associated with carbon dioxideremoved from the combustion gas stored on the vehicle.

In other embodiments, the attribute determined at the block 604 mayinclude a predetermined amount of material that contains carbonassociated with carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas that canbe stored in a predetermined range of distance travelable by thevehicle. For example, the distance travelable may be associated with adistance to a predetermined location of a facility that is configured toreceive the stored material that contains carbon associated with carbondioxide removed from the combustion gas. As another example, thedistance travelable may be associated with an amount of fuel remainingonboard the vehicle.

In other embodiments, the attribute determined at the block 604 mayinclude identity of a vehicle; an amount of carbon dioxide removed fromthe combustion gas; an amount of stored material that contains carbonassociated with carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas; and/orform of stored material that contains carbon associated with carbondioxide removed from the combustion gas.

In other embodiments, the attribute determined at the block 604 mayinclude capacity of a facility to receive from the vehicle material thatcontains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas. In some embodiments, the capacity of a facility mayinclude storage capacity to store material that contains carbonassociated with carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas. In someother embodiments the capacity of a facility may include electricalcapacity to process material that contains carbon associated with carbondioxide removed from the combustion gas.

Given by way of further examples, the attribute determined at the block604 may include identity of a user; at least one incentive factorselected to incentivize removal of carbon dioxide; an amount of carbondioxide removed within a predetermined time period; an amount of carbondioxide removed within a predetermined geographical region; an amount ofcarbon dioxide removed by a predetermined user; and/or an amount ofcarbon dioxide removed from a predetermined vehicle.

As a further example, the attribute determined at the block 604 mayinclude a vehicle mode defined by at least one modifiable parameter.Given by way of nonlimiting example, the modifiable parameter mayinclude at least one modifiable setting of an engine, such as withoutlimitation richness of a fuel-air mixture. As another example, themodifiable parameter may include type of fuel. As a further example, themodifiable parameter may include a modifiable setting of a catalyticconverter, such as without limitation temperature of the combustion gas.

In other embodiments, the attribute determined at the block 604 mayinclude a characteristic of the combustion gas. Given by way ofnonlimiting examples, the characteristic of the combustion gas mayinclude temperature and/or pressure of the combustion gas, compositionof the combustion gas, or the like.

In other embodiments the attribute determined at the block 604 mayinclude a ratio of rate of removal of carbon dioxide to rate ofgeneration of carbon dioxide.

Referring additionally to FIG. 6C, in some other embodiments at a block610 carbon dioxide may be removed from the combustion gas when a valueof at least one attribute regarding removal of carbon dioxide from thecombustion gas meets a predetermined criterion. In some embodiments andreferring to FIG. 6D, removing carbon dioxide from the combustion gaswhen a value of at least one attribute meets a predetermined criterionat the block 610 may include automatically removing carbon dioxide fromthe combustion gas when a value of at least one attribute meets apredetermined criterion at a block 612.

Referring now to FIG. 6E, in some embodiments removing carbon dioxidefrom the combustion gas at the block 610 may include absorbing thecarbon dioxide in a liquid solution at a block 614. Details have beendiscussed above. In some embodiments absorbing the carbon dioxide in aliquid solution at the block 614 may include passing the combustion gasthrough a liquid solution 616. In some other embodiments and referringto FIG. 6F, absorbing the carbon dioxide in a liquid solution at theblock 614 may include passing the combustion gas over a surface of aliquid solution 618.

Referring to FIG. 6G, in some embodiments the removed carbon dioxide maybe separated from the liquid solution at a block 620. Details ofseparation have been discussed above. Referring to FIG. 61, in someembodiments the liquid solution may be recovered at a block 622. Detailsof recovery have been discussed above.

Referring now to FIG. 6J, in some other embodiments removing carbondioxide from combustion gas from an engine of a vehicle at the block 610may include adsorbing the carbon dioxide with an adsorption material.Details have been discussed above.

Referring now to FIG. 6K, in some embodiments material that containscarbon associated with the carbon dioxide removed from the combustiongas may be stored at a block 626.

It will be appreciated that various materials may contain carbon that isassociated with the carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas. Forexample, in applications in which no further processing is performed onthe carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas, the material thatcontains carbon associated with the carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas may include carbon dioxide removed from the combustiongas. However, in other embodiments, the material that contains carbonassociated with the carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas mayinclude at least one product of a chemical reaction. For example, insome embodiments the carbon dioxide may be reacted with sodium hydroxideto form sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate, as desired.

Referring now to FIGS. 6A, 6C, and 6L, at a block 628 material thatcontains carbon associated with the carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas may be removed from a vehicle. If desired and referringadditionally to FIG. 6M, in some cases an amount of carbon dioxideremoved from a vehicle may be determined at a block 630.

Referring back to FIG. 6A, in some embodiments the attribute may includeprice payable for carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas. Theprice payable for carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas may bedetermined in various ways. Given by way of nonlimiting examples, invarious embodiments the price payable for the removed carbon dioxide maybe: based upon an amount of carbon dioxide removed; based upon an amountof carbon removed; proportional to a predetermined carbon valuationfactor; based upon a value of at least one factor such as withoutlimitation position of a vehicle where the carbon dioxide is removedfrom the combustion gas, time when the carbon dioxide is removed fromthe combustion gas, identity of a user, and identity of a vehicle;and/or based upon a form in which the material that contains carbonassociated with the carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas isstored, such as without limitation carbon dioxide, a carbonate, abicarbonate, and/or carbonic acid.

Referring additionally to FIG. 6N and in some embodiments in which theattribute includes price payable for carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas, a value of the price payable for the removed carbondioxide may be allocated to an account at a block 632. In someembodiments the value of the price payable for carbon dioxide removedfrom more than one vehicle may be allocatable to the account.

In some embodiments, the account may be one of two or more accounts.Given by way of nonlimiting examples, the accounts may include: anaccount based upon position of a vehicle where the carbon dioxide isremoved from the combustion gas; an account based upon time when thecarbon dioxide is removed from the combustion gas; an account based uponidentity of a user; and/or an account based upon identity of a vehicle.In some embodiments the account may include a database.

In some embodiments and referring additionally to FIG. 6O, at least aportion of the value of the price payable for the removed carbon dioxidemay be disbursed from the account at a block 634.

Referring now to FIGS. 6A and 6P and in some embodiments in which theattribute includes price payable for carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas, data indicative of value of the price payable for theremoved carbon dioxide may be communicated from the vehicle at a block636.

Referring now to FIGS. 6A and 6Q and in some embodiments in which theattribute includes price payable for carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas, data indicative of value of the price payable for theremoved carbon dioxide may be stored in a database at a block 638. Givenby way of nonlimiting examples, in some embodiments storing dataindicative of value of the price payable for the removed carbon dioxidein a database at the block 638 may include, at a block 640, storing dataindicative of value of the price payable for the removed carbon dioxidein a relational database in association with at least one additionalattribute such as position of a vehicle where the carbon dioxide isremoved from the combustion gas; time when the carbon dioxide is removedfrom the combustion gas; identity of a user; and/or identity of avehicle.

Referring now to FIG. 7A and given by way of overview, in someembodiments an illustrative system 700 includes electrical circuitry 702configured to determine a value of at least one attribute regardingremoval of carbon dioxide from combustion gas from an engine 12 of avehicle 14.

In some embodiments, the system 700 and its components may be configuredto perform process blocks of the method 600 (FIG. 6A). For example, theelectrical circuitry 702 may be configured to perform operations at theblock 604 (FIG. 6A). Process details need not be repeated.

Referring additionally to FIG. 7B, the system 700 may include acommunications system 704 configured to communicate data indicative ofthe attribute. The communications system 704 may be any type ofcommunications system as desired, such as a radiofrequencycommunications system, a visual communications system, an auralcommunications system, or the like. Nonlimiting examples of the at leastone attribute will be discussed below.

Referring back to FIG. 7A, the attribute may be any attribute as desiredregarding removal of carbon dioxide from the combustion gas. Given byway of examples only and not of limitation, in various embodiments theat least one attribute may include without limitation any one or more ofthe following attributes: position of a vehicle where the carbon dioxideis removed from the combustion gas; time when the carbon dioxide isremoved from the combustion gas; governmental regulations regardingremoving carbon dioxide from combustion gas from an engine of a vehicle;and/or an amount of pollution in air drawn into an engine from which thecarbon dioxide is removed from the combustion gas.

Given by way of further examples only and not of limitation, in variousembodiments the at least one attribute may include without limitationany one or more of the following attributes: monetary value of theremoved carbon dioxide; and/or an amount of storage capacity availableon the vehicle to store material that contains carbon associated withcarbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas.

As a further nonlimiting example, in some embodiments the attribute mayinclude a predetermined amount of material that contains carbonassociated with carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas that canbe stored in a predetermined time period. For example, in someembodiments the predetermined time period may correspond to a timeperiod for the vehicle to travel to a predetermined location configuredfor offloading material that contains carbon associated with carbondioxide removed from the combustion gas.

As another nonlimiting example, in some embodiments the attribute mayinclude a predetermined amount of material that contains carbonassociated with carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas that canbe stored in a predetermined range of distance travelable by thevehicle. In some embodiments, the distance travelable may be associatedwith a distance to a predetermined location of a facility that isconfigured to receive the stored material that contains carbonassociated with carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas. In someother embodiments, the distance travelable may be associated with anamount of fuel remaining onboard the vehicle.

Given by way of further nonlimiting examples, in some embodiments theattribute may include without limitation form of stored material thatcontains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas.

Given by way of further nonlimiting examples, in some embodiments theattribute may include without limitation identity of a vehicle; anamount of carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas; and/or anamount of stored material that contains carbon associated with carbondioxide removed from the combustion gas.

Given by way of further nonlimiting examples, in some embodiments theattribute may include without limitation capacity of a facility toreceive material that contains carbon associated with carbon dioxideremoved from the combustion gas. For example, in some embodimentscapacity of a facility may include storage capacity to store materialthat contains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas. In some other embodiments capacity of a facility mayinclude electrical capacity to process material that contains carbonassociated with carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas.

Given by way of further nonlimiting examples, in various embodiments theattribute may include: identity of a user; at least one incentive factorselected to incentivize removal of carbon dioxide; an amount of carbondioxide removed within a predetermined time period; an amount of carbondioxide removed within a predetermined geographical region; an amount ofcarbon dioxide removed by a predetermined user; and/or an amount ofcarbon dioxide removed from a predetermined vehicle.

In some other embodiments, given by way of nonlimiting example theattribute may include a vehicle mode defined by at least one modifiableparameter. In some cases, the modifiable parameter may include at leastone modifiable setting of an engine, such as without limitation richnessof a fuel-air mixture. In some other cases, the modifiable parameter mayinclude type of fuel. In other cases, the modifiable parameter mayinclude a modifiable setting of a catalytic converter, such as withoutlimitation temperature of the combustion gas.

In some embodiments, the attribute may include a characteristic of thecombustion gas. For example, in some embodiments the characteristic ofthe combustion gas may include temperature and/or pressure of thecombustion gas. In some other embodiments the characteristic of thecombustion gas may include composition of the combustion gas.

In some embodiments the attribute may include a ratio of rate of removalof carbon dioxide to rate of generation of carbon dioxide.

Referring now to FIG. 7C, in some embodiments the system 700 may includea reaction vessel 706 that is configured to remove carbon dioxide fromthe combustion gas when a value of at least one attribute regardingremoval of carbon dioxide from the combustion gas meets a predeterminedcriterion. The reaction vessel 706 may include any type of vesselwhatsoever as appropriate for temperature, pressure, and chemicalparameters. In some embodiments the reaction vessel 706 may beconfigured to automatically remove carbon dioxide from the combustiongas when the value of the at least one attribute meets a predeterminedcriterion.

In some embodiments, the reaction vessel 706 may be configured to absorbthe carbon dioxide in a liquid solution. Details of the liquid solutionhave been discussed above. Referring additionally to FIG. 7D, in someembodiments the reaction vessel 706 may be configured to pass thecombustion gas through a liquid solution 708. Referring to FIG. 7E, insome other embodiments the reaction vessel 706 may be configured to passthe combustion gas over a surface 710 of the liquid solution 708.

Referring now to FIG. 7F, in some embodiments the system 700 may includea separation vessel 712 that is configured to separate the removedcarbon dioxide from the liquid solution. Separation details have beendiscussed above. In some other embodiments and referring now to FIG. 7G,the system 700 may include a recovery vessel 714 that is configured torecover the liquid solution. Recovery details have been discussed above.

Referring now to FIG. 7H, in some other embodiments the reaction vessel706 may be configured to adsorb the carbon dioxide with an adsorptionmaterial 716. Details regarding the adsorption material have beendiscussed above.

Referring now to FIG. 7I, in some embodiments the system 700 may includea storage vessel 718 that is configured to store material that containscarbon associated with carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas.Storage vessel details have been discussed above. In some embodimentsthe storage vessel 718 may be removable from the vehicle 14, and in someembodiments the storage vessel 718 may be removably replaceable on thevehicle 14. It will be appreciated that the storage vessel 718 may beany type of storage vessel as desired. Given by way of non-limitingexamples, the storage vessel 718 may include without limitation abottle, reservoir, tank, or the like. The storage vessel 718 may besized as desired for a particular application. The storage vessel 718may be made from any material as desired for a particular application.

Given by way of non-limiting example for illustration purposes only, insome embodiments the storage vessel 718 (that contains carbon associatedwith the carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas) may beconfigured to be disposed off the vehicle 14. That is, in some cases thestorage vessel 718 may be configured such that the storage vessel 718may be removed from the vehicle 14 and brought to a collection orexchange facility that accepts containers (such as the storage vessel718) that contain carbon associated with the carbon dioxide removed fromthe combustion gas. However, it will be appreciated that, in otherapplications, the storage vessel 718 need not be brought to such acollection or exchange facility.

It will be appreciated that various materials may contain carbon that isassociated with the carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas. Forexample, in applications in which no further processing is performed onthe carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas, the material thatcontains carbon associated with the carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas may include carbon dioxide removed from the combustiongas. However, in other embodiments, the material that contains carbonassociated with the carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas mayinclude at least one product of a chemical reaction (such as, withoutlimitation sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate).

Referring now to FIG. 7J, in some embodiments the system 700 may includea removal mechanism 720 that is configured to remove the material thatcontains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas. In some embodiments, the removal mechanism 720 mayinclude an outlet port. In some other embodiments, the removal mechanismmay include a removably replaceable storage vessel configured to storethe material that contains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removedfrom the combustion gas (such as removably replaceable embodiments ofthe storage vessel 718).

Referring now to FIG. 7K, in some embodiments the system 700 may includean apparatus 722 that is configured to determine an amount of carbondioxide removed from the vehicle 14. For example, the apparatus 722 maybe embodied as an electro-mechanical system having an appropriatesensor, such as a flow sensor or the like, associated with the removalmechanism 720 and electrical circuitry configured to determine an amountof carbon dioxide responsive to signals from the sensor.

Referring back to FIG. 7C, in some embodiments the at least oneattribute may include price payable for carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas. Given by way of nonlimiting examples, in variousembodiments the price payable for the removed carbon dioxide may be:based upon an amount of carbon dioxide removed; based upon an amount ofcarbon removed; proportional to a predetermined carbon valuation factor;based upon a value of at least one factor such as position of a vehiclewhere the carbon dioxide is removed from the combustion gas, time whenthe carbon dioxide is removed from the combustion gas, identity of auser, and/or identity of a vehicle; and/or based upon a form in whichmaterial that contains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removedfrom the combustion gas is stored, such as without limitation carbondioxide, a carbonate, a bicarbonate, and/or carbonic acid.

Referring now to FIG. 7L, in some embodiments the system 700 may includeelectrical circuitry 724 that is configured to allocate a value of theprice payable for the removed carbon dioxide to an account. In someembodiments the account may be one of two or more accounts. Given by wayof nonlimiting examples, the accounts may include: an account based uponposition of a vehicle where the carbon dioxide is removed from thecombustion gas; an account based upon time when the carbon dioxide isremoved from the combustion gas; an account based upon identity of auser; and/or an account based upon identity of a vehicle. In someembodiments the account may include a database.

In some embodiments, the electrical circuitry 724 may be furtherconfigured to disburse at least a portion of the value of the pricepayable for the removed carbon dioxide from the account. In some otherembodiments, the value of the price payable for carbon dioxide removedfrom two or more vehicles may be allocatable to the account.

Referring now to FIG. 7M, in some embodiments the system 700 may includeelectrical circuitry 726 that is configured to communicate from thevehicle data indicative of value of the price payable for the removedcarbon dioxide.

Referring now to FIG. 7N, in some embodiments the system 700 may includedata storage 728 that is configured to store data indicative of value ofthe price payable for the removed carbon dioxide in a database. In someembodiments, the data storage 728 may include a relational database thatis configured to store data indicative of value of the price payable forthe removed carbon dioxide in association with at least one additionalattribute such as position of a vehicle where the carbon dioxide isremoved from the combustion gas, time when the carbon dioxide is removedfrom the combustion gas, identity of a user, and/or identity of avehicle.

Referring now to FIG. 8A, in some embodiments an illustrative method 800is provided for managing carbon dioxide emissions from an engine of avehicle. The method 800 starts at a block 802. An amount of carbondioxide removable from combustion gas from an engine of a vehicle uponoccurrence of a predetermined event is predicted at a block 804. Themethod 800 stops at a block 806.

Referring additionally to FIG. 8B, in some embodiments a price payablefor carbon dioxide removable from the combustion gas may be predicted ata block 808. In some embodiments the predetermined event may include apredetermined time. In some other embodiments the predetermined eventmay include arrival of the vehicle at a predetermined location.

Referring now to FIGS. 8A and 8C, in some embodiments at least oneparameter chosen from time and vehicle position upon filling a storagecontainer substantially to capacity with material that contains carbonassociated with carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas may bepredicted at a block 810.

Referring now to FIGS. 8A and 8D, in some embodiments at least oneamount of storage capacity on board the vehicle that will be filled withmaterial that contains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removedfrom the combustion gas upon completion of at least one predeterminedtime period may be predicted at a block 812. Referring additionally toFIG. 8E, in some embodiments the predicted amount of storage capacity onboard the vehicle that will be filled with material that contains carbonassociated with carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas uponcompletion of at least one predetermined time period may be displayed ona display device at a block 814.

Referring now to FIGS. 8A and 8F, in some embodiments at least oneamount of storage capacity on board the vehicle that will be filled withmaterial that contains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removedfrom the combustion gas when the vehicle reaches at least onepredetermined location may be predicted at a block 816. Referringadditionally to FIG. 8G, the predicted amount of storage capacity onboard the vehicle that will be filled with material that contains carbonassociated with carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas when thevehicle reaches at least one predetermined location may be displayed ona display device at a block 818.

Referring now to FIG. 9A, in some embodiments an illustrative system 900is provided for managing carbon dioxide emissions from an engine of avehicle. The system 900 includes electrical circuitry 902 that isconfigured to predict an amount of carbon dioxide removable fromcombustion gas from an engine 12 of a vehicle 14 upon occurrence of apredetermined event. In some embodiments the predetermined event mayinclude a predetermined time. In some other embodiments thepredetermined event may include arrival of the vehicle at apredetermined location.

Referring additionally to FIG. 9B, in some embodiments the system 900may include electrical circuitry 904 that is configured to predict aprice payable for carbon dioxide removable from the combustion gas.

Referring now to FIGS. 9A and 9C, in some embodiments the system 900 mayinclude electrical circuitry 906 that is configured to predict at leastone parameter chosen from time and vehicle position upon filling astorage container substantially to capacity with material that containscarbon associated with carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas.

Referring now to FIGS. 9A and 9D, in some embodiments the system 900 mayinclude electrical circuitry 908 that is configured to predict at leastone amount of storage capacity on board the vehicle that will be filledwith material that contains carbon associated with carbon dioxideremoved from the combustion gas upon completion of at least onepredetermined time period.

Referring additionally to FIG. 9E, in some embodiments a display device910 may be configured to display the predicted amount of storagecapacity on board the vehicle that will be filled with material thatcontains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas upon completion of at least one predetermined timeperiod.

Referring now to FIGS. 9A and 9F, in some embodiments the system 900 mayinclude electrical circuitry 912 that is configured to predict at leastone amount of storage capacity on board the vehicle that will be filledwith material that contains carbon associated with carbon dioxideremoved from the combustion gas when the vehicle reaches at least onepredetermined location.

Referring additionally to FIG. 9G, in some embodiments a display device914 may be configured to display the predicted amount of storagecapacity on board the vehicle that will be filled with material thatcontains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas when the vehicle reaches at least one predeterminedlocation.

Referring now to FIGS. 10A and 10B, in some embodiments an illustrativevehicle 14 is provided. The vehicle 14 includes a vehicle frame 16. Anengine 12 is disposed on the vehicle frame 16. Details of the engine 12and vehicle types have been discussed above.

A system 1000 is provided for managing carbon dioxide emissions from theengine 12. The system 1000 includes electrical circuitry 1002 that isconfigured to determine a value of at least one attribute regardingremoval of carbon dioxide from combustion gas from the engine 12. Thesystem 1000 also includes a reaction vessel 1006 that is configured toremove carbon dioxide from the combustion gas when the value of the atleast one attribute meets a predetermined criterion.

In various embodiments the at least one attribute may include any one ormore attributes as desired, such as without limitation: position of avehicle where the carbon dioxide is removed from the combustion gas;time when the carbon dioxide is removed from the combustion gas;governmental regulations regarding removing carbon dioxide fromcombustion gas from an engine of a vehicle; an amount of pollution inair drawn into the engine; monetary value of the removed carbon dioxide;and/or an amount of storage capacity available on the vehicle to storematerial that contains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removedfrom the combustion gas.

In various other embodiments, the attribute may include a predeterminedamount of material that contains carbon associated with carbon dioxideremoved from the combustion gas that can be stored in a predeterminedtime period. For example, in some embodiments the predetermined timeperiod may correspond to a time period for the vehicle to travel to apredetermined location configured for offloading material that containscarbon associated with carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas.

In other embodiments the attribute may include a predetermined amount ofmaterial that contains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removedfrom the combustion gas that can be stored in a predetermined range ofdistance travelable by the vehicle. For example, the distance travelablemay be associated with a distance to a predetermined location of afacility that is configured to receive the stored material that containscarbon associated with carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas.As another example, the distance travelable may be associated with anamount of fuel remaining onboard the vehicle.

In various other embodiments, the attribute may include: identity of thevehicle; an amount of carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas; anamount of stored material that contains carbon associated with carbondioxide removed from the combustion gas; and/or form of stored materialthat contains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas.

In some embodiments, the attribute may include capacity of a facility toreceive material that contains carbon associated with carbon dioxideremoved from the combustion gas. For example, in some applicationscapacity of a facility may include storage capacity to store materialthat contains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas. In some other applications, capacity of a facility mayinclude electrical capacity to process material that contains carbonassociated with carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas.

In some embodiments, the attribute may include: identity of a user; atleast one incentive factor selected to incentivize removal of carbondioxide; an amount of carbon dioxide removed within a predetermined timeperiod; an amount of carbon dioxide removed within a predeterminedgeographic region; an amount of carbon dioxide removed by apredetermined user; and/or an amount of carbon dioxide removed from thevehicle.

In various embodiments, the attribute may include a vehicle mode definedby at least one modifiable parameter. For example, the modifiableparameter may include at least one modifiable setting of the engine,such as without limitation richness of a fuel-air mixture. As furtherexamples, the modifiable parameter may include type of fuel and/or amodifiable setting of a catalytic converter, such as without limitationtemperature of the combustion gas.

In some embodiments, the attribute may include a characteristic of thecombustion gas, such as without limitation temperature and/or pressureof the combustion gas and/or composition of the combustion gas. In someother embodiments the attribute may include a ratio of rate of removalof carbon dioxide to rate of generation of carbon dioxide.

In some embodiments, the reaction vessel 1006 may be configured toautomatically remove carbon dioxide from the combustion gas responsiveto the electrical circuitry 1002 when the value of the attribute meets apredetermined criterion.

Referring additionally to FIGS. 10C and 10D, in some embodiments thereaction vessel 1006 may be configured to absorb the carbon dioxide in aliquid solution 1008. In some embodiments and as shown in FIG. 10C, thereaction vessel 1006 may be configured to pass the combustion gasthrough the liquid solution 1008. In some other embodiments and as shownin FIG. 10D, the reaction vessel 1006 may be configured to pass thecombustion gas over a surface 1010 of the liquid solution 1008.

Referring now to FIG. 10E, in some embodiments the system 1000 mayinclude a separation vessel 1012 that is configured to separate theremoved carbon dioxide from the liquid solution. Referring now to FIG.10F, in some embodiments the system 1000 may include a recovery vessel1014 that is configured to recover the liquid solution.

Referring now to FIG. 10G, in some embodiments the reaction vessel 1006may be configured to adsorb the carbon dioxide with an adsorptionmaterial 1016.

Referring now to FIG. 10H, in some embodiments the system 1000 mayinclude a storage vessel 1018 that is configured to store material thatcontains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas.

In some embodiments, the material that contains carbon associated withcarbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas includes carbon dioxideremoved from the combustion. However, in some other embodiments thematerial that contains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removedfrom the combustion gas may include at least one product of a chemicalreaction.

In some embodiments, the storage vessel 1018 may be removablyreplaceable.

Referring now to FIG. 10I, in some embodiments the system 1000 mayinclude a removal mechanism 1020 that is configured for removing fromthe vehicle material that contains carbon associated with carbon dioxideremoved from the combustion gas. In some embodiments the removalmechanism 1020 may include an outlet port. In some other embodiments theremoval mechanism 1020 may include the storage vessel 1018 when thestorage vessel 1018 is removably replaceable.

Referring now to FIG. 10J, in some embodiments the system 1000 mayinclude an apparatus 1022 that is configured to determine an amount ofcarbon dioxide removed from the vehicle. In such embodiments, theattribute may include price payable for carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas. In such cases, the price payable for the removed carbondioxide may be: based upon an amount of carbon dioxide removed; basedupon an amount of carbon removed; proportional to a predetermined carbonvaluation factor; based upon a value of at least one factor chosen fromposition of the vehicle where the carbon dioxide is removed from thecombustion gas, time when the carbon dioxide is removed from thecombustion gas, identity of a user, and identity of the vehicle; and/orbased upon a form in which material that contains carbon associated withcarbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas is stored, such aswithout limitation carbon dioxide, a carbonate, a bicarbonate, and/orcarbonic acid.

Referring now to FIG. 10K, in some embodiments the system 1000 mayinclude electrical circuitry 1024 that is configured to allocate a valueof the price payable for the removed carbon dioxide to an account. Insome embodiments, the value of the price payable for carbon dioxideremoved from two or more vehicles may be allocatable to the account. Insome embodiments, the account may be one of two or more accounts. Forexample, the accounts may include: an account based upon position of thevehicle where the carbon dioxide is removed from the combustion gas; anaccount based upon time when the carbon dioxide is removed from thecombustion gas; an account based upon identity of a user; and/or anaccount based upon identity of the vehicle. In some embodiments, theaccount may include a database. In some embodiments, the electricalcircuitry 1024 may be configured to disburse at least a portion of thevalue of the price payable for the removed carbon dioxide from theaccount.

Referring now to FIG. 10L, in some embodiments the system 1000 mayinclude electrical circuitry 1026 that is configured to communicate fromthe vehicle data indicative of value of the price payable for theremoved carbon dioxide.

Referring now to FIG. 10M, in some embodiments the system 1000 mayinclude data storage 1028 that is configured to store data indicative ofvalue of the price payable for the removed carbon dioxide in a database.Given by way of nonlimiting example, in some embodiments the datastorage 1028 may include a relational database configured to store dataindicative of value of the price payable for the removed carbon dioxidein association with at least one additional attribute chosen fromposition of the vehicle where the carbon dioxide is removed from thecombustion gas, time when the carbon dioxide is removed from thecombustion gas, identity of a user, and identity of the vehicle.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singularterms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from theplural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as isappropriate to the context and/or application. The varioussingular/plural permutations are not expressly set forth herein for sakeof clarity.

The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates differentcomponents contained within, or connected with, different othercomponents. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures aremerely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures may beimplemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense,any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality iseffectively “associated” such that the desired functionality isachieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve aparticular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each othersuch that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective ofarchitectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components soassociated can also be viewed as being “operably connected”, or“operably coupled,” to each other to achieve the desired functionality,and any two components capable of being so associated can also be viewedas being “operably couplable,” to each other to achieve the desiredfunctionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but arenot limited to physically mateable and/or physically interactingcomponents, and/or wirelessly interactable, and/or wirelesslyinteracting components, and/or logically interacting, and/or logicallyinteractable components.

In some instances, one or more components may be referred to herein as“configured to,” “configured by,” “configurable to,” “operable/operativeto,” “adapted/adaptable,” “able to,” “conformable/conformed to,” etc.Those skilled in the art will recognize that such terms (e.g.“configured to”) can generally encompass active-state components and/orinactive-state components and/or standby-state components, unlesscontext requires otherwise. While particular aspects of the presentsubject matter described herein have been shown and described, it willbe apparent to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachingsherein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from thesubject matter described herein and its broader aspects and, therefore,the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changesand modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of the subjectmatter described herein. It will be understood by those within the artthat, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appendedclaims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as“open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as“including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpretedas “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as“includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understoodby those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claimrecitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in theclaim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present.For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claimsmay contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one ormore” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrasesshould not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claimrecitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particularclaim containing such introduced claim recitation to claims containingonly one such recitation, even when the same claim includes theintroductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinitearticles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically beinterpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holdstrue for the use of definite articles used to introduce claimrecitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introducedclaim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art willrecognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to meanat least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “tworecitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least tworecitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in thoseinstances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C,etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the senseone having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “asystem having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not belimited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and Btogether, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and Ctogether, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “atleast one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a constructionis intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understandthe convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” wouldinclude but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, Calone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A,B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those withinthe art that typically a disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting twoor more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, ordrawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities ofincluding one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms unlesscontext dictates otherwise. For example, the phrase “A or B” will betypically understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “Aand B.”

With respect to the appended claims, those skilled in the art willappreciate that recited operations therein may generally be performed inany order. Also, although various operational flows are presented in asequence(s), it should be understood that the various operations may beperformed in other orders than those which are illustrated, or may beperformed concurrently. Examples of such alternate orderings may includeoverlapping, interleaved, interrupted, reordered, incremental,preparatory, supplemental, simultaneous, reverse, or other variantorderings, unless context dictates otherwise. Furthermore, terms like“responsive to,” “related to,” or other past-tense adjectives aregenerally not intended to exclude such variants, unless context dictatesotherwise.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts,and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/orexamples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will beunderstood by those within the art that each function and/or operationwithin such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented,individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software,firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment,several portions of the subject matter described herein may beimplemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), FieldProgrammable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), orother integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art willrecognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, inwhole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in integratedcircuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or morecomputers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computersystems), as one or more programs running on one or more processors(e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more microprocessors),as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designingthe circuitry and/or writing the code for the software and or firmwarewould be well within the skill of one of skill in the art in light ofthis disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the mechanisms of the subject matter described herein are capableof being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, andthat an illustrative embodiment of the subject matter described hereinapplies regardless of the particular type of signal bearing medium usedto actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signal bearingmedium include, but are not limited to, the following: a recordable typemedium such as a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, a Compact Disc (CD), aDigital Video Disk (DVD), a digital tape, a computer memory, etc.; and atransmission type medium such as a digital and/or an analogcommunication medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable, a waveguide, a wiredcommunications link, a wireless communication link (e.g., transmitter,receiver, transmission logic, reception logic, etc.), etc.).

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the foregoing specificexemplary processes and/or devices and/or technologies arerepresentative of more general processes and/or devices and/ortechnologies taught elsewhere herein, such as in the claims filedherewith and/or elsewhere in the present application.

One skilled in the art will recognize that the herein describedcomponents (e.g., operations), devices, objects, and the discussionaccompanying them are used as examples for the sake of conceptualclarity and that various configuration modifications are contemplated.Consequently, as used herein, the specific exemplars set forth and theaccompanying discussion are intended to be representative of their moregeneral classes. In general, use of any specific exemplar is intended tobe representative of its class, and the non-inclusion of specificcomponents (e.g., operations), devices, and objects should not be takenlimiting.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, otheraspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes ofillustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scopeand spirit being indicated by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of removing carbon dioxide fromcombustion gas from an engine of a vehicle, the method comprising:removing in a first vessel carbon dioxide from combustion gas from anengine of a vehicle; storing in a second vessel material that containscarbon associated with the carbon dioxide removed from the combustiongas; and removing the second vessel from the vehicle.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: reinstalling on the vehicle an empty secondvessel.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein removing in a first vesselcarbon dioxide from combustion gas from an engine of a vehicle includesabsorbing the carbon dioxide in a liquid solution.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: determining at least one attributeregarding removal of carbon dioxide from combustion gas from an engineof a vehicle.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least oneattribute includes position of a vehicle where the carbon dioxide isremoved from the combustion gas.
 6. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: processing the material that contains carbon associated withthe carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas.
 7. The method ofclaim 6, wherein processing the material that contains carbon associatedwith the carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas includestransforming the material that contains carbon associated with thecarbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas into a hydrocarbon. 8.The method of claim 1, further comprising: measuring an amount of storedmaterial that contains carbon associated with the carbon dioxide removedfrom the combustion gas.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:determining an amount of storage capacity available for storing materialthat contains carbon associated with the carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:determining a rate of storing material that contains carbon associatedwith the carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas.
 11. The methodof claim 10, further comprising: determining an amount of time remainingto fill the storage capacity available for storing material thatcontains carbon associated with the carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:determining a distance travelable in a vehicle with the amount ofstorage capacity available for storing material that contains carbonassociated with the carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas. 13.The method of claim 1, further comprising: recording time when carbondioxide is removed from the combustion gas.
 14. The method of claim 1,wherein removing carbon dioxide from combustion gas from an engine of avehicle includes removing carbon dioxide from combustion gas from anengine of a vehicle when a combustion gas exhaust rate is less than apredetermined exhaust rate.
 15. The method of claim 14, furthercomprising: exhausting the combustion gas to atmosphere when thecombustion gas exhaust rate is at least the predetermined exhaust rate.16. The method of claim 14, further comprising: storing in a thirdvessel the combustion gas when the combustion gas exhaust rate is atleast the predetermined exhaust rate.
 17. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: modifying at least one parameter that is associated withremoval of carbon dioxide from the combustion gas.
 18. The method ofclaim 17, wherein modifying at least one parameter that is associatedwith removal of carbon dioxide from the combustion gas includes varyingat least one setting of an engine.
 19. A system for removing carbondioxide from combustion gas from an engine of a vehicle, the systemcomprising: a first vessel configured to remove carbon dioxide fromcombustion gas from an engine of a vehicle; a second vessel configuredto store material that contains carbon associated with carbon dioxideremoved from the combustion gas; and a removal mechanism configured toremove the second vessel from the vehicle.
 20. The system of claim 19,wherein the second vessel is removably replaceable on the vehicle. 21.The system of claim 19, wherein the first vessel is further configuredto absorb the carbon dioxide in a liquid solution.
 22. The system ofclaim 19, further comprising: electrical circuitry configured todetermine at least one attribute regarding removal of carbon dioxidefrom the combustion gas.
 23. The system of claim 22, wherein the atleast one attribute includes position of a vehicle where the carbondioxide is removed from the combustion gas.
 24. The system of claim 19,wherein at least one vessel chosen from the first vessel and the secondvessel is further configured to process the stored material thatcontains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas.
 25. The system of claim 24, wherein at least one vesselchosen from the first vessel and the second vessel is further configuredto transform the stored material that contains carbon associated withcarbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas into a hydrocarbon. 26.The system of claim 19, further comprising: a measurement systemconfigured to measure an amount of stored material that contains carbonassociated with carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas.
 27. Thesystem of claim 26, wherein the measurement system is further configuredto determine an amount of storage capacity available for storingmaterial that contains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removedfrom the combustion gas.
 28. The system of claim 27, wherein themeasurement system is further configured to determine a rate of storingmaterial that contains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removedfrom the combustion gas.
 29. The system of claim 28, wherein themeasurement system is further configured to determine an amount of timeremaining to fill the storage capacity available for storing materialthat contains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removed from thecombustion gas.
 30. The system of claim 27, wherein the measurementsystem is further configured to determine a distance travelable in avehicle with the amount of storage capacity available for storingmaterial that contains carbon associated with carbon dioxide removedfrom the combustion gas.
 31. The system of claim 19, further comprising:a monitoring system configured to record time when carbon dioxide isremoved from the combustion gas.
 32. The system of claim 19, wherein thefirst vessel is further configured to remove carbon dioxide from thecombustion gas when a combustion gas exhaust rate is less than apredetermined exhaust rate.
 33. The system of claim 32, wherein thefirst vessel is further configured to exhaust the combustion gas toatmosphere when the combustion gas exhaust rate is at least thepredetermined exhaust rate.
 34. The system of claim 32, furthercomprising: a third vessel configured to store the combustion gas whenthe combustion gas exhaust rate is at least the predetermined exhaustrate.
 35. The system of claim 19, wherein at least one parameter that isassociated with removal of carbon dioxide from the combustion gas ismodifiable.
 36. The system of claim 35, wherein the at least onemodifiable parameter that is associated with removal of carbon dioxidefrom the combustion gas includes at least one modifiable setting of anengine.
 37. The system of claim 19, wherein the second vessel isremovably replaceable.
 38. The system of claim 19, wherein the secondvessel is configured to be disposed on a vehicle.
 39. The system ofclaim 38, wherein: the second vessel is configured to be removablyreplaceable; and the removal mechanism includes the second vessel. 40.The system of claim 19, wherein the second vessel is configured to bedisposed off a vehicle.
 41. A vehicle comprising: a vehicle frame; anengine disposed on the vehicle frame; and a system for removing carbondioxide from combustion gas from the engine, the system including: afirst vessel configured to remove carbon dioxide from the combustiongas; a second vessel configured to store material that contains carbonassociated with carbon dioxide removed from the combustion gas; and aremoval mechanism configured to remove the second vessel from thevehicle.
 42. The vehicle of claim 41, wherein the second vessel isremovably replaceable.